Become a notary in Idaho

Where to register

Applications go to the Idaho Secretary of State. Open their page for the current application, not a StampSide form.

• Commissioning page

  Idaho Secretary of State

  https://sosbiz.idaho.gov/search/notary

• Official lookup

  Commission lookup uses the same page as commissioning.

  https://sosbiz.idaho.gov/search/notary

Requirements

What the official page states. If a topic is missing here, that page did not spell it out.

Qualifications

Idaho Code § 51-121: at least 18; U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; resident of, or a place of employment or practice in, Idaho. The SOS instructions add: able to read and write, and not disqualified under § 51-123.

Bond

§ 51-121(3): surety bond or functional equivalent of $10,000 at the time of application. You may perform notarial acts only while a valid assurance is on file.

Term

Six years. Commissions are not renewed — you re-apply, with a new bond, up to 90 days before the current commission expires. The SOS does not send renewal reminders.

Fee (as posted)

$30 filing fee. Paper filing adds a $20 manual processing fee (sosbiz.idaho.gov avoids that). City, county, and state employees are exempt from notary filing fees when the commission is for employment. State employees bonded through Risk Management also skip the $30 fee.

Exam

The SOS FAQ says a test is not required to apply. Beginning July 1, 2019, the SOS is required to provide an online education course; the training course is posted on the SOS site.

How to get started

1. 01

   Buy the $10,000 Idaho notary bond

   Contact an insurance agent. The name on the bond, application, and later stamp must match.

2. 02

   File the application and bond

   Complete the application on sosbiz.idaho.gov (recommended) or the paper form. The oath on the paper form is sworn before a commissioned notary — not yourself. Mail bond and application with the fee if you file on paper.

3. 03

   Print the certificate, then buy the stamp

   The SOS instructions say the Notary Certificate authorizes you to purchase a stamping device; the commission is complete once you have that stamp. Recommissioning notaries may keep a stamp that still matches.

4. 04

   Register on StampSide

   After you use the Idaho Secretary of State site, create a public page: photo, where you work, and how clients reach you. Share the URL on emails and invoices. The page stays unpublished until a commission is on file.

Tools after you apply

Official pages and named suppliers already listed in this product. Checkout is on their site — StampSide does not sell stamps.

• Bond or E&O

  Idaho posts a $10,000 surety bond with the application (Idaho Code § 51-121). The bond protects the signer, not you.

  National Notary Association

• Stamp or seal

  Inked stamp, serrated or milled-edge border, rectangle or circle. Only: “Notary Public,” “State of Idaho,” your name exactly as on the certificate, commission number, and optionally “My commission expires:” plus the date. No extra graphics.

  Idaho notary stamp rules

• Journal

  Idaho’s SOS FAQ says a journal is not required but is strongly recommended.

  Notary Rotary

• More suppliers

  Notary Rotary, Notary.net, and the National Notary Association are on the supplies list. State-specific seals only.

  StampSide supplies list

More official pages

• Idaho notaries, apostilles, authentications
• How to become an Idaho notary
• Idaho Code § 51-121

Remote / electronic notarization

Commissioned notaries may file an “Addition of Electronic or Remote Online Notary” amendment on sosbiz.idaho.gov (paper filing adds the $20 manual fee) and must choose tamper-evident technology under Idaho Code § 51-120.